Windshield regulator



Oct. 24, 1939. J. B. MENTON El AL WINDSHIELD REGULATOR Filed April 22, 1938 J A B INgENTORfi. ose e22 B IZI'J 14.,519112.

w/uu. ATTORNEY5- Patented Oct. 24, 1939 r 2,176,975.

UNITEDISTATESD PATENT OFFICE WINDSHIELD REGULATOR Joseph B. Menton and Bernard W. Benz, Detroit, Mich., assignors to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 22, 1938, Serial No. 203,528

'7 Claims. (01. 296-84) This invention relates to improved windshield An opening 24 is provided through the cowl opening and closing regulators and particularly bar it) at substantially the transverse center of to a regulator of the concealed type capable of rethe vehicle through which the operating mechataining the windshield at any point between comnism is adapted to extend for opening and closplete open and closed positions through the oping the windshield. 5 eration of an operating lever mechanism. A generally L-shaped supporting member 26 One of the primary objects of the present inlies in a substantially vertical plane and has its vention is to provide an improved windshield regupwardly directed leg 28 fixedly secured to the ulator structure which is simple in construction under surface of the cowl bar by spot welding or and which is economical to manufacture. the like, and has its forwardly directed leg 30 10 A further object of the present invention is to suitably secured to a rigid strap 32 which may be provide a simplified windshield regulator strucfixed to the dash panel (not shown). The supture which is positive in its action and which is port member 26 is preferably stamped out of easily operated. relatively light sheet metal material and is pro- Another object of the invention is to provide vided with edge flanges 34 completely around 15; an improved window regulator mechanism which the edges thereof so as to stififen and provide a is concealed from normal vision but which is rigid supporting structure. The leg 28 is prefreadily accessible to the vehicle operator. erably offset from the plane of the leg 39 so that Other objects of the invention will become apthere is no interference between certain parts of parent from the following specification, the drawthe opening and closing mechanism with the 20 ing relating thereto and from the claims hereinsupporting member. after set forth. The opening and closing mechanism comprises In the drawing in which like numerals are used a linkage mechanism which lies in a substanto designate like parts in the several views tially vertical plane and includes an elongated throughout; link member 38 which is pivotally connected at 25 Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sec- 46 to a bracket 42. The bracket 42 is fixedly setional view, showing part in elevation, taken at cured to the frame 22 of the windshield at subsubstantially the transverse center of a part of stantially the transverse center thereof and is an automotive vehicle having a window regulatadapted to extend through the opening 24 when ing mechanism according to the present inventhe windshield is in its closed position. The 30 tion associated therewith; lower end of the link member 38 is pivotally Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the regulatconnected at 44 to another elongated link meming mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1; her 46, which in turn is pivotally connected at Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional View 48 to the leg 30 0f the support member 26. on a slightly enlarged scale taken substantiany Another mounting or supporting member 50, in 35 along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. the form of a segment having a forwardly di- Referring to the drawing, a part of an autorected extension 52 thereon, is pivotally conmotive vehicle is illustrated including a transnected by a pivot pin 54 to a boss 56 on the leg versely extending cowl bar ID, a cowl l2 fixed 30 of the member 26. The member 56 may be thereto having the usual cowl opening [4 thereadjusted relative to the support 30 about the fixed 40 through which is adapted to be covered by the pivot p 54 y means of a Screw 55 which exusual cowl closure member I6. The usual transtends through an elongated curved slot 56 in the versely extending instrument panel I8 is fixed member 50 and which is adapted to be engaged to the cowl bar and extends downwardly within by a nut within a boss 60 on the member 26 adthe front passenger compartment of the vehicle jacent the rear edge thereof. By releasing the 5 in the usual way. I screw 56, the member may be pivoted about The cowl bar II] is formed with a rabbet 20 for the pivot pin 54 through the slot 58, so that the receiving the frame of a windshield 22. The member 50 may be pivotally adjusted relative to windshield 22 includes the usual sheet of glass the support 3|]. so having a frame therearound which may be either A lever member 62 is pivotally secured to the 5o of the straight or U-type. Suitable sealing member 50 by means of a pivot pin 64, so that means, not shown, may be provided between the the lever arm 62 moves with the member 50 as it windshield and the edges of the vehicle opening is adjusted about its pivot point 54. The lev so as to seal the opening when the windshield is member 62 is pivotally and slidably connected to as closed. the link member 46 by means of a pivot pin 66,

lower edge of the instrument panel l8, so that it may be readily grasped by the vehicle operator for operating the opening and closing mechanism. By drawing the handle portion ll) toward the operator, the lever arm 62 is caused to pivot about its pivot 64 and the pivot pin 66 rides within the slot 68 and causes the linkage member 38 to move outwardly through the opening 24 to open the windshield 22.

In order to hold the window in its desired po sition, a releasable locking member is provided which includes a trigger member 12 which is pivotally attached by a pivot pin 74 to a projection 16 formed integral with the lever member 62 adjacent the handle portion ill. The member 72 has a downwardly directed extension 18 formed integral therewith which is notched at 8i) for the reception of one end of a tension spring The opposite end of the spring is fixedly attached to the handle portion Eli so that teeth 84', formed on the member F2 are resiliently urged into cooperating grooves 86 formed along the lower curved edge of the segment member 55.

3 When the teeth 84 are received within the desired notches 86 in the segment member 56, the opening and closing mechanism is locked against movement and the window is held in position until the member i2 is grasped by the fingers of the operator and the teeth 84 are removed from engagement with the grooves 85. When the teeth are out of engagement with the grooves, the linkage mechanism may be actuated to open or close the windshield.

It is evident from the above that the present invention provides an improved and simplified window operating structure having a number of advantages. One such advantage is that by the position and arrangement of the trigger memlber 12 adjacent the handle portion l0, both the trigger member and the handle portion may be' grasped at the same time by the vehicle operator. By a single movement in drawing the handle me1nber toward the operator, the trigger mem- -ber releases the handle member so that the windshield is in a tightly sealed position relative to the window opening when the windshield is closed.

Formal changes may be made in the specificembodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate Y with the appended claims. 65

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a pivotally mounted windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving the frame, of an operating ,mechanism comprising an upstanding support "member, a linkage mechanism lying in a substantially vertical plane which intersects the plane of the frame, said mechanism being pivotally connected to said support and pivotally connected to said frame, a lever member pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally and nected to said frame, a lever member lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, and means for releasably holding said lever member in various positions of adjustment.

3. The combination with a pivotally mounted windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving the frame, of an operating mechanism comprising a support member, a linkage mechanism lying in a substantially vertical plane which intersects the plane of the frame, said linkage mechanism being pivotally connected to said support and pivotally connected to said frame, a lever member having a handle portion pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, a handle member pivotally mounted on said lever member adjacent said handle portion, said handle member having means adapted to engage cooperating means on said support for releasably holding said lever member invarious positions of adjustment.

4. A combination with a windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving the frame, of an operating mechanism comprising a support member, a linkage mechanism pivotally connected to said support and pivotally con nected to said frame, a lever member having a handle portion pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, another handle member pivotally mounted on said lever adjacent said handle portion, a notched member mounted on said support, and means on said handle member adapted to cooperate with said notched member to releasably hold said lever member in various positions of adjustment.

5. The combination with a windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving the frame, of an operating mechanism comprising a support member, a linkage mechanism lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally connected to said support and pivotally connected to said frame, a lever member lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally mounted on said support and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, said lever member having a downwardly directed handle portion, a notched member mounted on said support, and a handle member'pivotally mounted on said lever member adjacent said handle portion having means thereon adapted to cooperate with said notches to releasably hold said lever member in various positions of adjustment.

6. The combination with a windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving support and adjustably mounted at its opposite end to said support, so that said member may be adjustably mounted on said support about its pivotal connection with said support, a lever member lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally mounted on said mounting member and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, said lever member having a downwardly directed handle portion, said mounting member having notches formed therein, a handle member pivotally. mounted on said lever member adjacent said handle portion having means thereon adapted to cooperate with said notches to releasably hold said lever member in various positions of adjustment, and means resiliently urging said last named means into engagement with said notches.

7. The combination with a windshield frame and an opening in a vehicle body for receiving the frame, of an operating mechanism comprising a support member, an elongated mounting member having a portion thereof in the shape of a segment, said mounting member having one end pivotally connected to said support and having its opposite end slidably connected to said support, said segment portion being formed with notches therein, a linkage mechanism lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally connected to said support and pivotally connected to said frame, a lever member lying in a substantially vertical plane pivotally mounted on said mounting member and pivotally and slidably mounted on said linkage mechanism, said lever member having a downwardly directed handle portion, a handle member pivotally mounted on said lever member adjacent said handle portion having means thereon adapted to cooperate with said notches to releasably hold said lever member in various positions of adjustment, and means for resiliently urging said last named means into engagement with said notches.

JOSEPH B. MEN'I'ON. BERNARD W. BENZ. 

